Romano Levi Grappa Gentile alla Camomilla 750ml

Luigi Veronelli, Italy's most celebrated food and wine critic, called Romano Levi "the angelic grappa maker" — a nickname that captures the genuine reverence surrounding this man and his tiny distillery in Neive, one of the most enchanting villages in the Langhe, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Romano took over the family operation in 1945, at just 17 years old, from his father Serafino, who founded it in 1925. Using the same original distillery equipment and the same hand-crafted process his entire life, Romano became the most famous grappaiolo in the world — celebrated not only for his grappa, but for the hand-drawn labels he personally illustrated for every release, most famously his recurring "Wild Woman" motif, the subject of countless exhibitions and publications across Italy and abroad.

This chamomile-infused expression carries a genuinely personal family story: the recipe comes directly from the diaries of Lidia Levi, Romano's sister, and it's her own specific method that shapes every step of production. The grappa is distilled in single batches, over an open flame, with the marc fully submerged — the last operation in Europe still using this genuine open-fire still. After a short six-month aging period in barrel, the grappa is drawn off and fresh chamomile flowers are added directly, macerating for three to four weeks before being processed and filtered through a system Lidia Levi personally designed, built specifically to preserve both the chamomile's full scent and the grappa's own unique character. The base itself comes from the pomace of Nebbiolo (Barbaresco), Dolcetto d'Alba, and Barbera d'Alba — leftover grape skins from some of Piedmont's most celebrated wines, sourced from vineyards classified as particularly well-suited to production, cured in underground pits before distillation.

The official tasting notes describe a light yellow color, with "flowers and fresh herbs with a camomile note" on the nose, developing into a palate that's "soft and pleasant with chamomile note lasting in a pure grappa environment." The Whisky Library's extended tasting confirms "flowers and herbs with balanced notes of chamomile," aromatic, "with light and pleasant notes of chamomile well integrated with the full-bodied taste of the grappa." Callmewine's Italian tasting note describes a nose developing "on a simple and delicate, subtle olfactory texture," where chamomile "alternates with fruity and woody touches," the palate "velvety" and "consistent with the nose," closing with "a beautiful long and persistent finish." Casillowine's own account calls Lidia's chamomile work "capable of becoming important without ever being exaggerated or too 'charged'" — describing it as "a perfect label to cheer the more relaxing after-dinner moments, those in which you want to give yourself moments of tranquility and lightheartedness." This is genuinely gentle, artisanal Italian grappa, made in tiny quantities by one of Italy's most beloved distilling families.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Romano Levi Grappa Gentile alla Camomilla is produced by Distilleria Romano Levi, located in Neive, in Piedmont's Langhe region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The distillery was founded in 1925 by Serafino Levi, and taken over in 1945 by his son, Romano Levi, at just 17 years old — Romano went on to become one of the most celebrated grappa makers in Italian history, personally illustrating the distinctive hand-drawn labels featured on every release, and earning the nickname "the angelic grappa maker" from critic Luigi Veronelli.

This particular grappa follows a recipe discovered in the diaries of Lidia Levi, Romano's sister, using pomace from Nebbiolo (Barbaresco), Dolcetto d'Alba, and Barbera d'Alba, cured in underground pits before distillation in single batches over an open flame — the last operation in Europe still using this traditional method. Following distillation, the grappa ages a short six months in barrel before fresh chamomile flowers are added directly and macerated for three to four weeks, then processed through a filtering system personally designed by Lidia Levi. Bottled at 40% ABV / 80 proof.

Critics Reviews

No formal numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time.

Distilleria Romano Levi (official tasting note):
"Color: Light yellow. Perfume: Flowers and fresh herbs with a camomile note. Taste: Soft and pleasant with chamomile note lasting in a pure grappa environment."

The Whisky Library (extended tasting note):
"The nose is flowers and herbs with balanced notes of chamomile. Aromatic with light and pleasant notes of chamomile well integrated with the full-bodied taste of the grappa."

Callmewine (extended tasting note):
"Romano Levi's grappa lights up in the glass with an amber color. The nose develops on a simple and delicate, subtle olfactory texture, which recalls an aromatic profile in which chamomile alternates with fruity and woody touches. The taste is velvety, consistent with the nose and with a beautiful long and persistent finish."

Casillowine (extended tasting note):
"Palate: Velvety tasting, with the palate confirming the olfactory notes, revealing itself long and persistent."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Light yellow to amber. Fresh flowers and herbs lead, with a genuine chamomile note alternating with subtle fruity and woody touches.

Palate
Soft, velvety, and pleasant, with chamomile carrying through as the central character, balanced by the underlying complexity of the cured pomace.

Finish
Long and persistent, closing with lingering chamomile and gentle grappa warmth — genuinely gentle rather than intense, true to its "Grappa Gentile" name.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Almond-based desserts
• Simple biscotti or shortbread
• Light, delicate pastries

Serving Note

Best enjoyed neat, in a small tulip glass, as a gentle, relaxing after-dinner digestif.